Prozessualen

Prozessualen is a German term used in academic contexts to refer to supporters of processual approaches in the social and historical sciences, notably archaeology, anthropology, and sociology. The word is derived from the adjective prozessual, meaning related to processes, and can function as a collective noun such as “the Prozessualen” or as a descriptor for processual methods and perspectives. In German-language scholarship the term is often employed to distinguish adherents of processual (or New Archaeology) thinking from interpretive or post-processual currents.

Historically, processual archaeology emerged in the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, led by figures such as Lewis Binford. It emphasized scientific hypothesis testing, general laws, and explanation of cultural change through material processes and environmental factors. As German-speaking scholars adopted and adapted these ideas, the label Prozessualen came to characterize researchers who prioritize systematic data collection, cross-site comparability, and model-based explanations over purely descriptive accounts. The approach is not limited to archaeology; analogous processual orientations appeared in related disciplines, focusing on processes and mechanisms that drive social and cultural dynamics.

The concept has faced sustained critique, particularly from post-processual theorists who argue that processual methods can overlook symbolism, meaning, human agency, and local context. Critics also contend that strict formal models may oversimplify complex cultural phenomena. In contemporary scholarship, the term Prozessualen is often used historically or descriptively, rather than as a standing school, with many researchers integrating processual elements alongside more interpretive or reflexive approaches.

Overall, Prozessualen denotes a historical and methodological strand centered on process-oriented explanations, while recognizing that modern practice often blends multiple theoretical perspectives.